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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • LIFESTYLES • SPORTS • COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENCE • TV LISTINGS Wednesday, May 12, 1999 Do a Spring Check-Up "You can't just pull a bike down from the rafters and go," says Const. Paul Hawrychuk. "You need to check it over carefully." carefully." Making sure there is air in the tires is just the first step towards getting the bike ready for spring. Nuts and bolts should be tightened tightened and the chain should be properly lubricated. Check the bearing for looseness by shaking the wheel from side to side. Remember the Hand Signals Government statistics show that, in an average year, almost 60 per cent of cycling crashes in Ontario happen in intersections. To prevent this from happening to you, you may want to review the rules of the road and the proper hand signals to use when riding. Like driving a car, shoulder checking is an important part of riding on the roads. It is difficult to do without wandering from a straight path and should be practiced. practiced. Making the proper signals to indicate to drivers when you are making a turn or stopping also takes practice because it means riding with only one hand on the handlebars. Left turn: hold left are straight out Right turn: left arm out, bent up Slowing or stopping: left arm out, bent down with palm back. Practice shoulder checking before signalling to make turns. Before stopping, signal, then use both hands on the brakes to stop. Have the Proper Equipment Your bike must be equipped with a bell or hom in good working working order and must have white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on the rear forks. If riding between one- half hour before sunset and one- half hour after sunrise, your bike must have a white front light and a red rear light or reflector. If caught without these safety precautions precautions you could face a fine, For instance, not having a horn or bell could cost you $105. Choosing the proper size bike is also a must. To choose the frame size that fits your body, straddle the bike with both feet on the ground. There should be a clearance of two to five centimetres centimetres between the top tube and the crotch. The seat should be adjusted so that the base is at least five centimetres above the top edge of the scat tube where the seat post has been inserted. While seated, the tips of both feet should touch the ground. When the seat is at the right height, your knee should be only slightly bent when one heel is on a pedal at its lowest point. To Get Rollin' by Michelle Wyton Staff Writer Now that the good weather is here, people are dusting off their bicycles and getting out their roller blades to head out on the roads for some fun. It is also a time to remind young cyclists, binders and even skateboarders in the family about the mles of the road and how to ride safely. "A bicycle is actually a vehicle under the " SAFETY FIRST --The nice weather is here and with the sun comes cyclists, in-line skaters and skateboarders of all ages. Two-year-old Brady McLuckie, of Newcastle, did a good job remembering to put on his helmet before heading out on his motorized vehicle. Highway Traffic Act," says Const. Paul Hawrychuk, Clarington's Community Police Officer. "They have to follow the mles of the road just like any other vehicle." Although the established mles are written specifically for cyclists, they apply in a similar fashion to anyone using the roadway. Whether riding in a subdivision, subdivision, downtown or on rural roads, it is important cyclists of all ages know the proper way to ride. Because of the small size of a bicycle and the speed at which they travel, there are two mles of the road that cyclists must pay attention to. One, slower traffic must stay to the right and two, slower traffic must give way to faster traffic when safe and practical. "Cyclists can take up a lane if they are going the speed of traffic," said Const. Hawrychuk. "If they aren't keeping up with traffic, they must yield to the traffic and move to the right." The law says cyclists must travel in single file on the road. Although on quieter streets, cyclists can often get away with riding side-by- side, it is important to remember to go back to single-file when cars are approaching. With 85 per cent of bike mishaps involving children occurring within six blocks of home, it is important for parents to make sure they teach their kids the proper way to ride before letting them head out With 85 per cent of bike mishaps involving children occurring within six blocks of home, it is important for parents to make sure they teach their kids the proper way to ride before letting them head out. "Parents have to educate their children about stop signs and yield signs," said Const. Hawrychuk. "If a parent is going to buy a child a bike, it is imperative that they train the child. After all, you wouldn't give a kid a set of keys for the car and let them go out without training." Hawrychuk also recommends that when a child graduates from a rear braking system to hand brakes parents take some extra time to make sure that in a panic situation the rider knows the brake is in their hands. For drivers, this is the time of year to slow down in subdivisions subdivisions and check the road for cyclists before opening your car door. Cars and bikes are meant to share the road and both must take responsibility for safety. Starting in June, Durham Regional Police Officers -- including those in Clarington -- will be on the look-out for cyclists riding without a helmet helmet and charges will be laid. Riders caught will have the option of paying the fine or attending a two- hour information session with a parent or guardian to learn about safe cycling, the rules of the road, and why you should wear a helmet. "In the past we haven't issued a lot of tickets for helmet violations," said Const. Hawrychuk. "We try to educate the public first and then charge later. This year, we're really going to concentrate on getting the message out that helmets helmets are the law and safety should come first," Now is the Time nw As of October 1, 1995, it is the law in Ontario for every cyclist under the age of 18 to wear an approved bicycle helmet, If caught without one, you could face a $65 line, "Parents do have to take some responsibility to make sure the kids arc wearing the helmet," said Const. Paul Hawrychuk, Clarington's Community Police Officer. "They can he charged if the child is under 16 years old," Hockey or other types of sports helmets are not recommended for cycling since they're designed and tested for other types of impact, A good hike helmet will have a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Snell Memorial Foundation sticker inside, (idling the Proper Fit Whether you cycle for sport or simply for fun, your best protection against serious serious head injury caused by a fall or a collision is a bicycle helmet, But, it has to he worn properly to be effective. With the skull made of bone only five millimetres thick, (about the width of a pencil) a severe blow to an unprotected head may cause a concussion or fractured skull that could lead to brain damage. To provide maximum protection, the helmet should 111 level and square on the head, The front should cover the forehead and be about two fingers' width above the eyebrows, It should sit snugly on your head and not slip when the head is moved - even before the chin strap is fastened. If it does slide, adjustments can be made with the foam sizing pads that arc provided with the helmet. Straps should lit in front of anil behind the ears and meet at the jaw. The chin strap should he fastened comfortably enough to allow the jaw to move freely without without pinching or choking you, When fit properly, it should allow air to pass through it and cool the cyclist's head,